Hot water coming out of all pipes...help!
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You have too much water pressure or temp is to high.. Is water comming out of the t&p valve ?? Have the water pressure & temp checked & possibly the T&P valve .. Maybe add expansion tank to the system. When I said check water pressure. Check it at the w.h. Drain. Thermo expansion is your problem . Adding the tank should cure it
A brass valve on top in on the side of the w.h. Should have a pipe attatched to it.it's probably not opening as, the hot water is backing up in your cold water lines due to the thermo expansion. Caising hot water to come out of cold water lines. Add expansion tank and you'll be ok
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t&p valve is a temperature and pressure relief valve, usually located on top of your water heater. you have potentially a very dangerous situation brewing. if the WH is overheating that much and the t&p valve hasnt opened you could have an explosion. until you can do some diagnostics or find yourself a plumber, for God's sake turn the WH off. If it is electric trip the breaker, if gas just turn the gas line valve off.
you probably have a stuck thermostat, after you have it turned off look and see what the thermostat is set on, surely shouldnt exceed 120f if even that. also as the previous person suggested see what the temp is coming from the faucets etc. you are probably in over your head and may have to find a plumber or friend that can change out the thermostat and the t&p valve also because if it hasnt popped off its faulty. hope you get this before the explosion, and im not kidding.
you probably have a stuck thermostat, after you have it turned off look and see what the thermostat is set on, surely shouldnt exceed 120f if even that. also as the previous person suggested see what the temp is coming from the faucets etc. you are probably in over your head and may have to find a plumber or friend that can change out the thermostat and the t&p valve also because if it hasnt popped off its faulty. hope you get this before the explosion, and im not kidding.
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Do not check this UNTIL you shut off the water heater and give it a chance to cool; you can speed the cooling process by turning a hot water faucet on after you shut off the heater and let cold water into the tank.
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edit. :wink:
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17,249 Posts
Have you had any plumbing work done recently?
If not it sounds like the T&P valve
Some shower valves also have tempering valves
Possible that has failed & hot water is bleeding thru ?
Is there any cold water valve shut off somewhere?
That may allow hot water to back feed too
There is a tempering valve - this mixes hot & cold water befor eit goes to your shower/faucets etc
Then there is the pressure valve - this allows excessive heat/steam to exit the water tank in case of an overheating/overpressure issue. This valve EXITS the tank & should not allow water to back flow into the codl water system
BUT - if pressure is building & the T&P valve has failed (will not open) THEN this can cause an explosion. This is not a joke & is a serious condition. Water tanks have gone thru the houis e- thru the roof & found up to 100' away
Find this problem ASAP. It might not be a pressure build up, but it is a risk as faucetman stated
If not it sounds like the T&P valve
Some shower valves also have tempering valves
Possible that has failed & hot water is bleeding thru ?
Is there any cold water valve shut off somewhere?
That may allow hot water to back feed too
There is a tempering valve - this mixes hot & cold water befor eit goes to your shower/faucets etc
Then there is the pressure valve - this allows excessive heat/steam to exit the water tank in case of an overheating/overpressure issue. This valve EXITS the tank & should not allow water to back flow into the codl water system
BUT - if pressure is building & the T&P valve has failed (will not open) THEN this can cause an explosion. This is not a joke & is a serious condition. Water tanks have gone thru the houis e- thru the roof & found up to 100' away
Find this problem ASAP. It might not be a pressure build up, but it is a risk as faucetman stated
Thanks for all replys concerning hot water in all pipes
Just to update.....turned off the gas to the water heater. Can't find t & p valve but back pressure caused other problems as the pipes are old and started leaking at every weak joint. Fixed one leak just to find another. What a pain in the a__.
Just to update.....turned off the gas to the water heater. Can't find t & p valve but back pressure caused other problems as the pipes are old and started leaking at every weak joint. Fixed one leak just to find another. What a pain in the a__.
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Have you had any new tub/shower faucets installed lately? remodeling a bathroom maybe? you cna have a cross connect between the hot and cold lines.
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17,249 Posts
If you have pressure & leaks then that is a problem
Has your water heater been replaced recently?
Maybe someone did not put a T&P valve on?
Hard to think that would happen......
Watch this video from mythbusters & see how high in the air the water heater blows due to pressure
The area that contained the WH was totally destroyed
These things will go thru the entire house when they blow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmJoyuUJj2Q
T&P valve - can be located in different places
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Has your water heater been replaced recently?
Maybe someone did not put a T&P valve on?
Hard to think that would happen......
Watch this video from mythbusters & see how high in the air the water heater blows due to pressure
The area that contained the WH was totally destroyed
These things will go thru the entire house when they blow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmJoyuUJj2Q
T&P valve - can be located in different places
This water heater came with this mobile home which is a 1969 model. Thats right...I said 1969! The mobile home is on the property I bought & I thought to renovate it as the zoning won't allow building an actual house and the trailer has good wiring, roof, ect.
I may be mis-reading these posts ...
The T&P valve can't be the cause of his symptom of having hot water coming out of the cold pipe ? A faulty/missing T&P valve would be an additional (and dangerous) problem.
I think you should leave the heater off , start measuring water pressure and call a pro.
The T&P valve can't be the cause of his symptom of having hot water coming out of the cold pipe ? A faulty/missing T&P valve would be an additional (and dangerous) problem.
I think you should leave the heater off , start measuring water pressure and call a pro.
It may be better to just replace the relief valve (T&P valve) for the water heater, particularly if you are experiencing problems as you have described and also that valve is more than five years old.
It is not unusual to test the relief valve and it doesn't close fully leaving you with water trickling (or gushing) out and you have to shut off the house main water valve until you can get things fixed.
A water heater that is stuck on can cause hot water to come out the cold water faucets. The water has started to boil and pressure from steam is forcing water back out the cold feed and possibly back into the water main. If someone happened to use cold water at that moment, some of the hot water might go that way and out the cold faucet.
The above situation is close to the danger point. Should you ever see steam or powerful spurts of water from a cold or hot faucet leave that faucet open and running (also open a hot faucet if not already) until the water heater gas or electricity can be turned off.
Another reason for hot water in the cold water lines is because someone turned off the shower at the shower head leaving the faucets on. It is possible for hot water to cross over into the cold water line (or vice versa) here.
It is not unusual to test the relief valve and it doesn't close fully leaving you with water trickling (or gushing) out and you have to shut off the house main water valve until you can get things fixed.
A water heater that is stuck on can cause hot water to come out the cold water faucets. The water has started to boil and pressure from steam is forcing water back out the cold feed and possibly back into the water main. If someone happened to use cold water at that moment, some of the hot water might go that way and out the cold faucet.
The above situation is close to the danger point. Should you ever see steam or powerful spurts of water from a cold or hot faucet leave that faucet open and running (also open a hot faucet if not already) until the water heater gas or electricity can be turned off.
Another reason for hot water in the cold water lines is because someone turned off the shower at the shower head leaving the faucets on. It is possible for hot water to cross over into the cold water line (or vice versa) here.
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The OP stated that the T&P couldnt be found. I have seen T&Ps removed and plugs put in because the "damn thing was leaking". NOT SMART!!!! I can say that because my own grandfather did that at my mom's back in the early 80s. EXPLOSIVE situation. You HAVE to find that T&P or at least where one goes. If there isnt one or if it has failed and wont open you have a bomb in your place. Thats right a damn bomb and I am not exaggerating in the least.
In addition, I'm not trying to sound condescending so please do not take it that way, but if you dont know what a T&P is then you are definitely in over your head. You need a professional plumber in there to diagnose and correct the problem before someone is seriously injured or killed. This isnt fixing a leaky trap or a dripping faucet. This is some serious $%#@
In addition, I'm not trying to sound condescending so please do not take it that way, but if you dont know what a T&P is then you are definitely in over your head. You need a professional plumber in there to diagnose and correct the problem before someone is seriously injured or killed. This isnt fixing a leaky trap or a dripping faucet. This is some serious $%#@
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